Methods, apparatuses and computer programs for a transportation vehicle and for a base station of a mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

Methods, apparatuses and computer programs for a transportation vehicle and for a base station of a mobile communication system. The method for the transportation vehicle includes transmitting a request to a base station of a mobile communication system, wherein the request relates to a service having a pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) requirement; receiving a response to the request from the base station, wherein the response indicates that the service is unavailable from the base station at the pre-defined QoS requirement and wherein the response includes information related to one or more alternatives to the requested service; and transmitting an updated version of the request, wherein the updated version is based on the one or more alternatives.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application claims priority to European Patent ApplicationNo. 19165902.8, filed 28 Mar. 2019, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY

Illustrative embodiments relate to methods, apparatuses and computerprograms for a transportation vehicle and for a base station of a mobilecommunication system, more particularly, but not exclusively, to aconcept for providing suitable alternatives in case a desired QoSrequirement is unavailable from a base station of a mobile communicationsystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed embodiments will be described with reference to theaccompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1a shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for atransportation vehicle;

FIG. 1b shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatusfor a transportation vehicle;

FIG. 2a shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for abase station of a mobile communication system;

FIG. 2b shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatusfor a base station of a mobile communication system; and

FIGS. 3a to 3d show schematic drawings of an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Vehicular communication is a field of research and development. Toenable an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the transportationvehicles, transportation vehicles are expected to useVehicle-to-Vehicle-Communication (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Network (V2N)communication, e.g., to coordinate driving maneuvers and/or to receivetele-operated driving instructions. This communication is generallywireless, i.e., transportation vehicles may wirelessly communicate withother transportation vehicles in their vicinity and/or with backendservices via cellular mobile communication systems. Such communicationmay, e.g., be used to implement vehicular communication services, i.e.,services that are employed by a transportation vehicle and that arebased on a reliable communication between the transportation vehicle andfurther transportation vehicles or between the transportation vehicleand the backend services. Such services may, e.g., be tele-operateddriving services (in which the communication occurs between thetransportation vehicle and the backend service) or coordinated drivingservices, such as a lane merge service (in which the communication maypredominately occur between the transportation vehicle and furthertransportation vehicles in the vicinity of the transportation vehicle)or a platooning service. Such services often rely on a Quality ofService (QoS) functionality of a mobile communication system over whichthe communication is performed: For example, in tele-operated driving,to provide a safe service, the maximal latency might be required to bebelow a first threshold (e.g., below 20 ms), and a minimal datatransmission data rate might be required to be above a second threshold(e.g., above 1 Mbit/s).

International patent application WO 2017/175039 A1 discloses a methodand apparatus for end-to-end QoS/QoE (Quality of Service/Quality ofExperience) management in 5G systems. In this application, the QoSmanagement is performed on a per-application basis instead of aper-device basis.

International patent application WO 2018/125686 A1 discloses methods anddevices for radio communications. In this application, various QoSconcepts are employed.

There may be a desire to provide an improved concept for radio resourcemanagement in vehicular communication that takes into account the QoSrequirements of the services used by the transportation vehicles.

Disclosed embodiments are based on the finding that, as a multitude oftransportation vehicles are handled by the same base station of a mobilecommunication system, the wireless resources that are available to thebase station might not suffice to service all requests that are providedby the transportation vehicles. Instead, the base stations may try toprovide all of the transportation vehicles with a fair share of thewireless resources. In vehicular services, e.g., in safety-criticalservices such as tele-operated driving or assisted merging, this mightnot suffice, as the vehicular services often rely on the timely anddependable transmission of data. As the so-called Quality of Service(QoS) requirements of vehicular services are known in advance, thetransportation vehicles may transmit a request to a base station thatincludes the QoS requirement of the service the transportation vehiclerequests from the base station. If sufficient wireless resources areavailable for the base station to service the request, the base stationmay provide a communication link to the transportation vehicle that issuitable for the QoS requirement of the (vehicular) service. Ifinsufficient resources are available, the base station may provide thetransportation vehicle with one or more alternatives to the requestedservice. The one or more alternatives may, e.g., comprise lower QoSrequirements, e.g., based on lower content data rates or based onchanges in the type of service (e.g., three-dimensional perception datainstead of video), or they may be provided by a different base station.The transportation vehicle may use one of the one or more alternativesto reformulate the request and use the service.

Disclosed embodiments provide a method for a transportation vehicle. Themethod comprise transmitting a request to a base station of a mobilecommunication system. The request relates to a service having apre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) requirement. The method comprisesreceiving a response to the request from the base station. The responseindicates that the service is unavailable from the base station at thepre-defined QoS requirement. The response comprises information relatedto one or more alternatives to the requested service. The methodcomprises transmitting an updated version of the request. The updatedversion is based on the one or more alternatives. By receiving the oneor more alternatives to the requested service, the transportationvehicle may choose a service with a QoS requirement that is supported,which may avoid using a service at an insufficient QoS.

The one or more alternatives to the requested service may comprise atleast a subset of alternatives to the requested service that areprovided via the base station of the mobile communication system. Thismay enable using the same base station, albeit at a service that differsfrom the initially requested service.

The updated version of the request may be transmitted to the basestation of the mobile communication system. This may initiate acommunication link that may be used for the service.

The subset of alternatives to the requested service that are providedvia the base station of the mobile communication system may have lowerQoS properties than the pre-defined QoS requirement. The updated versionof the request may be based on an alternative that has a lower QoSproperty than the pre-defined QoS requirement. By using a service a witha lower QoS requirement, the same base station may be used for theservice.

For example, at least a part of the subset of alternatives to therequested service that are provided via the base station of the mobilecommunication system have lower QoS properties than the pre-defined QoSrequirement due to a change in a content data rate of the service.Alternatively or additionally, at least a part of the subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via the basestation of the mobile communication system have lower QoS propertiesthan the pre-defined QoS requirement due to a change to a different typeof service. Both alternatives may lead to lower QoS requirements.

The one or more alternatives to the requested service may comprise atleast a subset of alternatives to the requested service that areprovided via a different base station of the mobile communication systemor via a base station of a different mobile communication system. Thismay enable a use of a different base station that may support a morestringent QoS requirement, e.g., the QoS requirement of the initialservice request.

The updated version of the request may be transmitted to the differentbase station of the mobile communication system or to the base stationof the different mobile communication system. This may initiate acommunication link that may be used for the service.

For example, the subset of alternatives to the requested service thatare provided via a different base station of the mobile communicationsystem or via a base station of a different mobile communication systemmay provide the same service via the different base station of themobile communication system or via a different radio access technologyvia the base station of the different mobile communication system. Boththe different base station of the same mobile communication system and abase station of a different mobile communication system may be able toprovide the service at the initially requested QoS requirement.

In some disclosed embodiments, the information related to one or morealternatives to the requested service comprises information related to apredicted QoS of the one or more alternatives to the requested service.The method may comprise selecting one of the one or more alternativesbased on the predicted QoS of the one or more alternatives to therequested service. This may enable a more reliable selection of one ofthe alternatives.

For example, the information related to the predicted QoS may comprisethe predicted QoS over one or more pre-defined time intervals and/orbased on one or more confidence intervals. This may enable an improvedselection of one of the alternatives, e.g., based on an estimatedduration of an execution of the service or based on an impact of aviolation of a QoS requirement.

The method may be executed by the transportation vehicle. The mobilecommunication system may be a vehicular mobile communication system. Forexample, the service may be a vehicular communication service. Theservice may be one of a tele-operated driving service, a lane mergeassistance service, and an overtake assistance service. Such servicesmay benefit from a reliable support of QoS requirements.

Disclosed embodiments further provide a method for a base station of amobile communication system. The method comprises receiving a requestfrom a transportation vehicle via the mobile communication system. Therequest relates to a service having a pre-defined QoS requirement. Themethod comprises determining, whether the service is available from thebase station at the pre-defined QoS requirement. The method comprisesdetermining one or more alternatives to the requested service, if theservice is unavailable from the base station at the pre-defined QoSrequirement. The method comprises transmitting a response to the requestto the transportation vehicle. The response indicates that the serviceis unavailable from the base station at the pre-defined QoS requirement.The response comprises information related to the one or morealternatives to the requested service. By transmitting the one or morealternatives to the requested service, the transportation vehicle maychoose a service with a QoS requirement that is supported, which mayavoid using a service at an insufficient QoS.

For example, the one or more alternatives to the requested servicecomprises at least a subset of alternatives to the requested servicethat are provided via the base station of the mobile communicationsystem. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more alternatives tothe requested service may comprise at least a subset of alternatives tothe requested service that are provided via a different base station ofthe mobile communication system or via a base station of a differentmobile communication system. Both the same base station and a differentbase station may provide a viable service to the transportation vehicle.

Disclosed embodiments further provide a computer program having aprogram code for performing at least one of the methods, when thecomputer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or aprogrammable hardware component.

Disclosed embodiments further provide an apparatus for a transportationvehicle. The apparatus comprises at least one interface forcommunicating with a base station of a mobile communication system. Theapparatus comprises a control module configured to transmit a request tothe base station of the mobile communication system. The request relatesto a service having a pre-defined QoS requirement. The control module isconfigured to receive a response to the request from the base station.The response indicates that the service is unavailable from the basestation at the pre-defined QoS requirement. The response comprisesinformation related to one or more alternatives to the requestedservice. The control module is configured to transmit an updated versionof the request. The updated version is based on the one or morealternatives. Disclosed embodiments further provide a transportationvehicle comprising the apparatus.

Disclosed embodiments further provide an apparatus for a base station ofa mobile communication system. The apparatus comprises at least oneinterface for communicating with a transportation vehicle via the mobilecommunication system. The apparatus comprises a control moduleconfigured to receive a request from a transportation vehicle via themobile communication system. The request relates to a service having apre-defined QoS requirement. The control modules is configured todetermine, whether the service is available from the base station at thepre-defined QoS requirement. The control module is configured todetermine one or more alternatives to the requested service if theservice is unavailable from the base station at the pre-defined QoSrequirement. The control module is configured to transmit a response tothe request to the transportation vehicle. The response indicates thatthe service is unavailable from the base station at the pre-defined QoSrequirement. The response comprises information related to the one ormore alternatives to the requested service. Disclosed embodimentsfurther comprise the base station comprising the apparatus. Disclosedembodiments further comprise a system comprising the base station andone or more transportation vehicles (as described above).

Various example embodiments will now be described more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodimentsare illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers orregions may be exaggerated for clarity. Optional components may beillustrated using broken, dashed or dotted lines.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of variousmodifications and alternative forms, disclosed embodiments thereof areshown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described indetail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent tolimit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on thecontrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of thedisclosure. Like numbers refer to like or similar elements throughoutthe description of the figures.

As used herein, the term, “or” refers to a non-exclusive or, unlessotherwise indicated (e.g., “or else” or “or in the alternative”).Furthermore, as used herein, words used to describe a relationshipbetween elements should be broadly construed to include a directrelationship or the presence of intervening elements unless otherwiseindicated. For example, when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, the element may be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are nointervening elements present. Similarly, words such as “between”,“adjacent”, and the like should be interpreted similarly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particulardisclosed embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exampleembodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” or “including,” when used herein,specify the presence of stated features, integers, operations, elementsor components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, operations, elements, components orgroups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. Itwill be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1a shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for atransportation vehicle 100. The method comprises transmitting 110 arequest to a base station 200 of a mobile communication system 300. Therequest relates to a service having a pre-defined Quality of Service,QoS, requirement. The method comprises receiving 120 a response to therequest from the base station 200. The response indicates that theservice is unavailable from the base station 200 at the pre-defined QoSrequirement. The response comprises information related to one or morealternatives to the requested service. The method comprises transmitting130 an updated version of the request. The updated version is based onthe one or more alternatives. The method may be executed by thetransportation vehicle 100. For example, the transportation vehicle 100may be motorized transportation vehicle, e.g., a car, a truck or amotorbike. In some disclosed embodiments, the transportation vehiclemight also be an autonomous or tele-operated drone, such as an aerialdrone or an underwater drone.

FIG. 1b shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a(corresponding) apparatus 10 for a transportation vehicle 100. Theapparatus 10 comprises at least one interface 12 for communicating witha base station 200 of a mobile communication system 300. The apparatus10 comprises a control module 14 that is coupled to the at least oneinterface 12. The control module 14 may be configured to execute themethod of FIGS. 1a and/or 1 b, e.g., in conjunction with the at leastone interface. The control module 14 is configured to transmit a requestto the base station 200 of the mobile communication system 300 (via theat least one interface 12). The request relates to a service having apre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) requirement. The control module isconfigured to receive a response to the request from the base station200 (via the at least one interface 12). The response indicates that theservice is unavailable from the base station 200 at the pre-defined QoSrequirement. The response comprises information related to one or morealternatives to the requested service. The control module 14 isconfigured to transmit an updated version of the request (via the atleast one interface 12). The updated version is based on the one or morealternatives. FIG. 1b further shows the transportation vehicle 100comprising the apparatus 10, and a system comprising both thetransportation vehicle 100 and the base station 200. The system mayfurther comprise a further base station 250 of the mobile communicationsystem and/or a base station 310 of a further mobile communicationsystem.

The following description relates to both the method of FIG. 1a and theapparatus 10 of FIG. 1 b.

At least some disclosed embodiments relate to a method and an apparatusfor a transportation vehicle 100. The transportation vehicle may be anymobile vehicular transceiver that is capable of communicating within themobile communication system 300, e.g., as a UE (User Equipment) of themobile communication system 300. In at least some disclosed embodiments,the apparatus may be included in or may correspond to a communicationunit of a transportation vehicle. Accordingly, the method may beexecuted by the transportation vehicle.

The method comprises transmitting 110 (or more general “providing”) therequest to a base station 200 of the mobile communication system 300(e.g., via the mobile communication system 300). For example, therequest may be provided to a transceiver of the transportation vehicle100, and may be transmitted by the transceiver of the transportationvehicle to the base station 200.

For example, the request may request the base station 200 to allocate orreserve wireless resources for the transportation vehicle 100, e.g., fora communication link between the transportation vehicle and the basestation or for one or more communication links between thetransportation vehicle and one or more other transportation vehicles, toenable the use of the service by the transportation vehicle. In someother examples, the request may request the base station 200 toestablish a wireless bearer with a QoS configuration that matches orexceeds the QoS requirement of the service, e.g., for a communicationlink between the transportation vehicle and the base station.

For example, the base station 200 of the mobile communication system maybe an evolved Node B (eNodeB) or a gNodeB of the mobile communicationsystem. Alternatively, a transportation vehicle may act as mobile basestation of the mobile communication system, e.g., to provide ascheduling of side-link communication of the mobile communicationsystem. In some examples, the base station 200 may also generate theresponse to the request. Alternatively, the response to the request maybe generated by another stationary entity (that may be located in thecore network of the mobile communication system) and transmitted by thebase station 200.

In general, the mobile communication system may, for example, correspondto one of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-standardizedmobile communication networks, where the term mobile communicationsystem is used synonymously to mobile communication network. The mobileor wireless communication system may correspond to, for example, a 5thGeneration system (5G), a Long-Term Evolution (LTE), an LTE-Advanced(LTE-A), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), a Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS) or a UMTS Terrestrial Radio AccessNetwork (UTRAN), an evolved-UTRAN (e-UTRAN), a Global System for Mobilecommunication (GSM) or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)network, a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), or mobilecommunication networks with different standards, for example, aWorldwide Inter-operability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) network IEEE802.16 or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) IEEE 802.11, generally anOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, a TimeDivision Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) network, a Wideband-CDMA (WCDMA) network, a Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (FDMA) network, a Spatial Division Multiple Access(SDMA) network, etc.

In at least some disclosed embodiments, the mobile communication systemmay be a vehicular communication system, e.g., a vehicle-to-network(V2N) communication system. For example, the mobile communication systemmay be or may be based on a C-V2X (Cellular-Vehicle-to-Anything, whichmay comprise Long Term Evolution Vehicle-to-Anything, LTE-V2X, and 5thgeneration mobile communication system V2X, 5G-V2X) mobile communicationsystem. The mobile communication system may support two communicationmodes: PC5, which is used between transportation vehicles, and Uu, whichis used between transportation vehicles and base stations. Using PC5 andUu, the mobile communication system may support directvehicle-to-vehicle communication (without involvement of a base stationas a communication hop, using PC5, either managed by the base station orautonomously), i.e., side-link communication, vehicle-to-vehiclecommunication via a base station of the mobile communication system, andvehicle-to-network communication via a base station of the mobilecommunication system. The direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication may bebased on the same radio resources (e.g., the same frequency resources)as the communication via the base station of the transportation vehicle.

The request relates to the service having the pre-defined QoSrequirement. For example, the service may be a vehicular communicationservice, also denoted “connected transportation vehicle communicationservices, or short connected services”. Connected services may, e.g., beleft turning assist at a crossing, overtake assist at rural road, etc.Connected services, such as the service, may be connected transportationvehicle functions that require communications between the transportationvehicle and other transportation vehicles or between the transportationvehicle and a backend server/service in the execution of the connectedtransportation vehicle functions. For example, the service may be one ofa tele-operated driving service, a lane merge assistance service, anovertake assistance service, and a platooning service. In at least somedisclosed embodiments, the service is based on a communication linkbetween the transportation vehicle and the base station (i.e., a servervia the base station, such as in a tele-operated driving service), e.g.,based on uplink/downlink (i.e., Uu) communication. Alternatively oradditionally, the service may be based on one or more communicationlinks between the transportation vehicle and one or more othertransportation vehicles (e.g., in a platooning service). A platooningservice is a coordinated driving service, in which a plurality oftransportation vehicles travel in a coordinated state, at the samevelocity and with low inter-vehicle distances (i.e., lower than 15 m orlower than 10 m). The one or more communication links between thetransportation vehicle and one or more other transportation vehicles maybe based on side-link communication (i.e., communication directlybetween the transportation vehicles), which may use wireless resourcesthat are allocated to the transportation vehicle and the one or moreother transportation vehicles by the base station. In this case, therequest for the service may request the base station to allocate thewireless resources to establish and maintain the one or morecommunication links between the transportation vehicle and one or moreother transportation vehicles.

In at least some disclosed embodiments, the QoS requirement may be basedon one or more QoS criteria. For example, the QoS requirement maycorrespond to one or more QoS properties that are to be fulfilled to usethe service. For example, the QoS requirement may define at least one ofa desired maximal or average latency, a desired minimal datatransmission rate (e.g., for at least one of uplink, downlink andsidelink communication), and a desired maximal packet loss or errorrate. The QoS requirement may match one of a plurality of QoS profilesthat are supported by the mobile communication system 300. For example,the request may request the base station to establish a wireless bearerthat has a QoS profile that matches (or exceeds) the QoS requirement ofthe service.

The method comprises receiving 120 (or more general “obtaining”) theresponse to the request from the base station 200 (e.g., via the mobilecommunication system 300). For example, the response may be receivedfrom the base station 200 by a transceiver of the transportation vehicle100 and obtained from the transceiver. The response indicates that theservice is unavailable from the base station 200 at the pre-defined QoSrequirement. For example, the response may comprise a field thatspecifies that the request is denied. In addition to theindication/denial, the response specifies alternatives to the requestedservice.

The alternatives to the requested service may either be provided by thesame base station, by a different base station of the same mobilecommunication system, or by a different base station of a differentmobile communication system. For example, the one or more alternativesto the requested service may comprise at least a subset of alternativesto the requested service that are provided via the base station 200 ofthe mobile communication system 300. In this context “provided via thebase station 200” is not limited to “the service is provided by the basestation” or “a communication link of the service isestablished/maintained between the transportation vehicle and the basestation”, but may also include “wireless resources to be used for one ormore communication links of the service are allocated/reserved by thebase station”.

In many cases, in which a service is unavailable from the base station200, the unavailability may be due to a lack of wireless resources.Accordingly, services, that have less stringent QoS requirements, may beavailable via the base station 200. In other words, the subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via the basestation 200 of the mobile communication system 300 may have lower (i.e.,less stringent) QoS properties than the pre-defined QoS requirement. Theupdated version of the request may be based on an alternative (of theone or more alternatives) that has a lower QoS property than thepre-defined QoS requirement.

For example, a lower QoS property may be achieved by using a lowerquality setting in the transmission of content data (e.g., video data oraudio data). In other words, at least a part (i.e., at least somealternatives) of the subset of alternatives to the requested servicethat are provided via the base station 200 of the mobile communicationsystem 300 have lower QoS properties than the pre-defined QoSrequirement due to a change in a content data rate of the service (i.e.,the same service having a lower content data rate). Alternatively oradditionally, the QoS properties may be lower as the service itself ischanged, e.g., from video to three-dimensional depth data, from audioand video to video only etc. In other words, at least a part (i.e., atleast some alternatives) of the subset of alternatives to the requestedservice that are provided via the base station 200 of the mobilecommunication system 300 have lower QoS properties than the pre-definedQoS requirement due to a change to a different type of service.

In some disclosed embodiments, at least some alternatives of the subsetof alternatives to the requested service that are provided via the basestation 200 may have the same or higher (i.e., more stringent) QoSproperties than the pre-defined QoS requirement, e.g., if thealternative uses side-link communication instead of uplink/downlinkcommunication or vice versa.

In various disclosed embodiments, at least some of the alternatives maybe provided by a different base station. In other words, the one or morealternatives to the requested service may comprise at least a subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via a differentbase station 250 of the mobile communication system 300 or via a basestation 310 of a different mobile communication system 320. For example,the different base station and/or the base station of the differentmobile communication system may be implemented similar to the basestation 200. The different mobile communication system may beimplemented similar to the mobile communication system.

The subset of alternatives to the requested service that are providedvia a different base station 250 of the mobile communication system 300or via a base station 310 of a different mobile communication system 320may provide the same service via the different base station 250 of themobile communication system 300 or via a different radio accesstechnology (i.e., 5G-V2X instead of LTE-V2X) via the base station 310 ofthe different mobile communication system 320. Alternatively, the subsetof alternatives to the requested service that are provided via adifferent base station 250 of the mobile communication system 300 or viaa base station 310 of a different mobile communication system 320 mayprovide a different service (e.g., a service having a lower or higherQoS property, or a service that uses side-link communication instead ofuplink/downlink communication or vice versa) via the different basestation 250 of the mobile communication system 300 or via a differentradio access technology via the base station 310 of the different mobilecommunication system 320.

The method comprises transmitting 130 an updated version of the request.For example, the updated version of the request may be transmitted tothe base station 200 of the mobile communication system 300, e.g., if analternative of the one or more alternatives is selected that is providedvia the base station 200. Alternatively, the updated version of therequest is transmitted to the different base station 250 of the mobilecommunication system 300 or to the base station 310 of the differentmobile communication system 320, e.g., if an alternative of the one ormore alternatives is selected that is provided via the different basestation 250 of the mobile communication system 300 or via the basestation 310 of the different mobile communication system 320.

The updated version is based on the one or more alternatives. Forexample, the method may comprise selecting one of the one or morealternatives for the updated version of the request, e.g., based on theinformation related to the one or more alternatives.

In at least some disclosed embodiments, the alternative of the one ormore alternatives may be selected based on a predicted QoS of theselected alternative. For example, each alternative of the one or morealternatives may be associated with a prediction of a Quality of Serviceof the alternative, i.e., a prediction, as to which QoS is envisaged inthe alternative, and as to and as to how reliable the prediction is(i.e., how likely it is, that the predicted QoS can be provided). Inother words, the information related to one or more alternatives to therequested service may comprise information related to a predicted QoS ofthe one or more alternatives to the requested service. For example, theQoS may be predicted using different QoS criteria, e.g., a maximal oraverage latency, a minimal data transmission rate, a maximal packet lossor error rate, a maximal packet delay variation. The information relatedto the predicted QoS may indicate for each alternative of the one ormore alternatives a QoS that is envisaged in the alternative. Forexample, the information related to the predicted QoS may comprise foreach alternative of the one or more alternatives at least one element ofthe group of a predicted maximal or average latency, a predicted minimaltransmission data rate, a predicted maximal packet loss or error rate,and a predicted maximal packet delay variation. In other words, thepredicted QoS may comprise at least one element of the group of apredicted maximal or average latency, a predicted guaranteed or minimaltransmission data rate, a predicted maximal packet loss or error rate,and a predicted maximal packet delay variation. Furthermore, theinformation related to the predicted QoS may indicate for eachalternative of the one or more alternatives a confidence interval of theprediction of the QoS (i.e., how reliable the prediction is). In otherwords, information related to the predicted QoS may comprise informationrelated to a reliability of the prediction of the QoS over a pre-definedtime interval. For example, the information related to the predicted QoSmay comprise the predicted QoS over one or more pre-defined timeintervals (e.g., over 5 s, over 10 s and over 15 s) and/or based on oneor more confidence intervals (e.g., 90%, 95% and 99%). The method maycomprise selecting one of the one or more alternatives based on thepredicted QoS of the one or more alternatives to the requested service.

Alternatively or additionally, one or more other criteria may be used inthe selection of the alternative. For example, the one or morealternatives may be selected for the updated version of the requestbased on a type of the service of the alternative. For example, twoalternatives are provided, one that comprises a transmission of videodata, and another one that comprises a transmission of three-dimensionalperception sensor data, leading to a first tele-operated driving servicethat is based on the transmission of the video data, and a secondtele-operated driving service that is based on the three-dimensionalperception sensor data. The transportation vehicle may select the onealternative that is the favored option, i.e., the three-dimensionalperception sensor data if the perception sensors of the transportationvehicle are superior to the video sensors of the transportation vehicle.

The at least one interface 12 may correspond to one or more inputsand/or outputs for receiving and/or transmitting information, which maybe in digital (bit) values according to a specified code, within amodule, between modules or between modules of different entities. Insome disclosed embodiments, the at least one interface 12 may compriseor may be coupled to a transceiver of the transportation vehicle. Thetransceiver may be implemented as any method or mechanism fortransceiving, i.e., receiving and/or transmitting etc., one or moretransceiver units, one or more transceiver devices and it may comprisetypical receiver and/or transmitter components, such as one or moreelements of the group of one or more Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), one ormore Power Amplifiers (PAs), one or more filters or filter circuitry,one or more diplexers, one or more duplexers, one or moreAnalog-to-Digital converters (A/D), one or more Digital-to-Analogconverters (D/A), one or more modulators or demodulators, one or moremixers, one or more antennas, etc. The at least one interface may beconfigured to communicate via the mobile communication system via thetransceiver. In other words, the transceiver may be configured tocommunicate via the mobile communication system 300.

In disclosed embodiments the control module 14 may be implemented usingone or more processing units, one or more processing devices, any methodor mechanism for processing, such as a processor, a computer or aprogrammable hardware component being operable with accordingly adaptedsoftware. In other words, the described function of the control module14 may as well be implemented in software, which is then executed on oneor more programmable hardware components. Such hardware components maycomprise a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP),a micro-controller, etc.

More details of the method and apparatus are mentioned in connectionwith the proposed concept or one or more examples described above orbelow (e.g., FIGS. 2a to 3d ). The method and/or apparatus may compriseone or more additional optional features corresponding to one or morefacets of the proposed concept or one or more examples described aboveor below.

FIG. 2a shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for abase station 200 of a mobile communication system 300. The methodcomprises receiving 210 a request from a transportation vehicle 100 viathe mobile communication system 300. The request relates to a servicehaving a pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) requirement. The methodcomprises determining 220, whether the service is available from thebase station 200 at the pre-defined QoS. The method comprisesdetermining 230 one or more alternatives to the requested service if theservice is unavailable from the base station 200 at the pre-defined QoSrequirement. The method comprises transmitting 240 a response to therequest to the transportation vehicle 100. The response indicates thatthe service is unavailable from the base station 200 at the pre-definedQoS requirement. The response comprises information related to the oneor more alternatives to the requested service. For example, the methodmay be executed by the base station 200 of the mobile communicationsystem. Alternatively, the method may be executed by another mobile orstationary entity of the mobile communication system, e.g., an entitylocated in a core network of the mobile communication system. In somedisclosed embodiments, a transportation vehicle may act as base station200, and the method may be executed by the transportation vehicle.

FIG. 2b shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a(corresponding) apparatus 200 for a base station 20 of a mobilecommunication system 300. The apparatus 20 comprises at least oneinterface 22 for communicating with a transportation vehicle 100 via themobile communication system 300. The apparatus 20 comprises a controlmodule 24 that is coupled to the at least one interface 22. The controlmodule 24 may be configured to execute the method of FIG. 2a , e.g., inconjunction with the at least one interface 22. For example, the controlmodule 24 is configured to receive a request from a transportationvehicle 100 via the mobile communication system 300 (via the at leastone interface 22). The request relates to a service having a pre-definedQoS requirement. The control module 24 is configured to determine,whether the service is available from the base station 200 at thepre-defined QoS requirement. The control module is configured todetermine one or more alternatives to the requested service if theservice is unavailable from the base station 200 at the pre-defined QoS.The control module is configured to transmit a response to the requestto the transportation vehicle 100 (via the at least one interface 22).The response indicates that the service is unavailable from the basestation 200 at the pre-defined QoS requirement. The response comprisesinformation related to the one or more alternatives to the requestedservice. FIG. 2b further shows the base station, e.g., a stationary basestation or a transportation vehicle acting as a base station, comprisingthe apparatus 20. In some disclosed embodiments, a further stationary ormobile entity of the mobile communication system may comprise theapparatus 20. FIG. 2b further shows a system comprising the base station200 and the transportation vehicle 100.

The following description relates both to the method introduced inconnection with FIG. 2a and to the apparatus 20 introduced in connectionwith FIG. 2 b.

Various disclosed embodiments relate to a method and/or an apparatus fora base station 200 of a mobile communication system 300 (e.g., asintroduced in connection with FIGS. 1a to 1b ). The method comprisesreceiving 210 the request from the transportation vehicle 100 via themobile communication system 300 (e.g., by obtaining the request from atransceiver of the base station 200). The request relates to the servicehaving the pre-defined QoS requirement. In disclosed embodiments, theservice may be provided via the base station 200, e.g., a communicationlink of the service may be established/maintained between thetransportation vehicle 100 and the base station 200, and/or the basestation 200 may be configured to allocate or reserve wireless resourcesthat may be used for the service. Consequently, the request mayindicate, that the transportation vehicle (initially) desires the basestation 200 to service the request, by providing the service via thebase station 200. At a later stage, e.g., after the updated version ofthe request is received by the base station 200, the base station beconfigured to provide at least a part of the service, e.g., byestablishing the communication link of the service or by allocating orreserving wireless resources that are to be used for the service.

The method comprises determining 220 whether the service is availablefrom the base station 200 at the pre-defined QoS. For example, thedetermining 220, whether the service is available from the base station200 at the pre-defined QoS, may be based on a plurality of wirelessresources that are available to the base station 200, and/or a previousallocation of at least a part of the plurality of wireless resourcesthat are available to the base station 200. Additionally oralternatively, the determining 220, whether the service is availablefrom the base station 200 at the pre-defined QoS, may be based on achannel quality and/or based on a predicted channel quality of awireless channel between the base station 200 and the transportationvehicle. For example, the method may comprise predicting the QoS basedon a predicted channel quality of the wireless channel between the basestation 200 and the transportation vehicle, e.g., over a pre-definedtime interval. If the predicted channel quality “drops” (decreases)under a threshold, the service may be determined to be unavailable fromthe base station 200 at the pre-defined QoS. For example, the QoS may bepredicted with safety margins to achieve a pre-defined confidenceinterval (e.g., a 90% confidence interval, a 95% confidence interval, a99% interval). For example, if a 99% confidence interval is desired, thesafety margins of the prediction of the QoS may be chosen such, that,statistically, in 99% of cases, the actual wireless channel is at leastas good as the prediction of the channel quality indicates.

The method comprises determining 230 one or more alternatives to therequested service, if the service is unavailable from the base station200 at the pre-defined QoS. If the service is available from the basestation 200, the service may be provided via the base station 200, e.g.,without sending the response with the information related to the one ormore alternatives to the requested service. The one or more alternativesto the requested service may comprise at least a subset of alternativesto the requested service that are provided via the base station 200 ofthe mobile communication system 300. For example, the method maycomprise determining the subset of alternatives to the requested servicethat are provided via the base station 200 of the mobile communicationsystem 300 based on the plurality of wireless resources that areavailable to the base station 200, and/or the previous allocation of atleast a part of the plurality of wireless resources that are availableto the base station 200. Additionally or alternatively, the method maycomprise determining the subset of alternatives to the requested servicethat are provided via the base station 200 of the mobile communicationsystem 300 based on the channel quality and/or based on the predictedchannel quality of the wireless channel between the base station 200 andthe transportation vehicle.

Additionally or alternatively, the one or more alternatives to therequested service comprises at least a subset of alternatives to therequested service that are provided via a different base station 250 ofthe mobile communication system 300 or via a base station 310 of adifferent mobile communication system 320. For example, the methodcomprise requesting information related to the subset of alternatives tothe requested service that are provided via the different base station250 of the mobile communication system 300 or via the base station 310of the different mobile communication system 320 from the different basestation 250 of the mobile communication system 300 or from the basestation 310 of the different mobile communication system 320, e.g.,based on the received request from the transportation vehicle 100 and/orby forwarding the received request. The method may comprise receivingthe information related to the subset of alternatives to the requestedservice that are provided via the different base station 250 of themobile communication system 300 or via the base station 310 of thedifferent mobile communication system 320 from the different basestation 250 of the mobile communication system 300 or from the basestation 310 of the different mobile communication system 320. Theinformation related to the subset of alternatives to the requestedservice that are provided via the different base station 250 of themobile communication system 300 or via the base station 310 of thedifferent mobile communication system 320 may be based on the receivedrequest.

In at least some disclosed embodiments, the method may further comprisepredicting the QoS of the one or more alternatives. The method maycomprise providing the information related to the one or morealternatives with an information related to a predicted QoS of the oneor more alternatives to the requested service. The method may comprisedetermining the information related to the predicted QoS of the one ormore alternatives to the requested service by predicting the QoS of theone or more alternatives, e.g., based on a predicted channel quality ofa wireless channel between the base station (or the further base station250 or the base station 310 of the further mobile communication system320) and the transportation vehicle 100, and/or based on a usage and/oravailability of wireless resources. For example, each alternative of theone or more alternatives may be associated with a prediction of aQuality of Service of the alternative, i.e., a prediction, as to whichQoS is envisaged in the alternative, and as to and as to how reliablethe prediction is (i.e., how likely it is, that the predicted QoS can beprovided). For example, the QoS may be predicted using different QoScriteria, e.g., a maximal or average latency, a minimal datatransmission rate, a maximal packet loss or error rate, a maximal packetdelay variation. The information related to the predicted QoS mayindicate for each alternative of the one or more alternatives a QoS thatis envisaged in the alternative. For example, the information related tothe predicted QoS may comprise for each alternative of the one or morealternatives at least one element of the group of a predicted maximal oraverage latency, a predicted minimal transmission data rate, a predictedmaximal packet loss or error rate, and a predicted maximal packet delayvariation. In other words, the predicted QoS may comprise at least oneelement of the group of a predicted maximal or average latency, apredicted guaranteed or minimal transmission data rate, a predictedmaximal packet loss or error rate, and a predicted maximal packet delayvariation. Furthermore, the information related to the predicted QoS mayindicate for each alternative of the one or more alternatives aconfidence interval of the prediction of the QoS (i.e., how reliable theprediction is). In other words, information related to the predicted QoSmay comprise information related to a reliability of the prediction ofthe QoS over a pre-defined time interval. For example, the informationrelated to the predicted QoS may comprise the predicted QoS over one ormore pre-defined time intervals of a prediction horizon (e.g., over 5 s,over 10 s and over 15 s) and/or based on one or more confidenceintervals (e.g., 90%, 95% and 99%).

The method comprises transmitting 240 the response to the request to thetransportation vehicle 100 (e.g., by providing the response to therequest to a transceiver of the base station 200).

The at least one interface 22 may correspond to one or more inputsand/or outputs for receiving and/or transmitting information, which maybe in digital (bit) values according to a specified code, within amodule, between modules or between modules of different entities. Insome disclosed embodiments, the at least one interface 22 may compriseor may be coupled to a transceiver of the base station. The transceivermay be implemented as any method or mechanism for transceiving, i.e.,receiving and/or transmitting etc., one or more transceiver units, oneor more transceiver devices and it may comprise typical receiver and/ortransmitter components, such as one or more elements of the group of oneor more Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), one or more Power Amplifiers (PAs),one or more filters or filter circuitry, one or more diplexers, one ormore duplexers, one or more Analog-to-Digital converters (A/D), one ormore Digital-to-Analog converters (D/A), one or more modulators ordemodulators, one or more mixers, one or more antennas, etc. The atleast one interface may be configured to communicate via the mobilecommunication system via the transceiver. In other words, thetransceiver may be configured to communicate via the mobilecommunication system 300.

In disclosed embodiments the control module 24 may be implemented usingone or more processing units, one or more processing devices, any methodor mechanism for processing, such as a processor, a computer or aprogrammable hardware component being operable with accordingly adaptedsoftware. In other words, the described function of the control module24 may as well be implemented in software, which is then executed on oneor more programmable hardware components. Such hardware components maycomprise a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP),a micro-controller, etc.

At least some disclosed embodiments are focused on handling a situation,in which a service request (e.g., the request) is denied by the network(e.g., the base station 200). In disclosed embodiments, after a certainQoS request, the network (e.g., the base station 200) may reply with adenial (indicating, that the service is unavailable from the basestation 200 at the pre-defined QoS requirement), including a datastructure, such as a table, of possible QoS (e.g., the one or morealternatives), e.g., comprising a QoS prediction for a certain timehorizon (5 s, 10 s, 20 s) together with confidence/reliability.

At least some disclosed embodiments may thus provide that the UE, e.g.,the transportation vehicle 100, requests a certain service with QoSrequirements, receives a denial with available other QoS options (e.g.,the one or more alternatives), and changes the service request based onthe QoS options (e.g., by transmitting the updated request). In somedisclosed embodiments, at least some of the available other QoS optionsmay be based on changing the data rate (e.g., the video quality) of theservice, based on changing the RAT (e.g., by using a differentRAT/mobile communication system with a better QoS), or by changing theservice (e.g., audio only instead of video and audio).

In an exemplary embodiment, the QoS of a service may influence adistance that must be kept between transportation vehicles that followeach other, e.g., when using a platooning service. FIG. 3a shows twotransportation vehicles 302 and 304 having a distance of 5 m. To achievesuch a low distance (e.g., in a coordinated driving or platooningscenario), a coordinated driving service may have a QoS requirement ofat most 10 ms latency in its communication.

In some cases, the mobile communication system may support such astringent QoS requirement. In other cases, a base station of the mobilecommunication system may indicate, that such a service is unavailablefrom the base station, and may provide one or more alternatives to theservice. As shown in FIG. 3b , each alternative may be provided with aprediction of the QoS over various time intervals and/or variousconfidence intervals. For example, FIG. 3b may show an alternativehaving a predicted QoS with a predicted value (P) of the maximal latencyof 10 ms at a confidence interval (R for Reliability) of the predictionof 90% (reference sign 312), and a time horizon (i.e., predictionhorizon) (H, e.g., the time interval) of 10 s, and a predicted value (P)of the maximal latency of 10 ms at a confidence interval of theprediction of 99% and a time horizon of 30 s (reference sign 314). Asshown by reference sign 316, further options may be included (as shownin FIG. 3d ).

As shown in FIG. 3c , in this case, the predicted QoS values may bedepicted in a three-dimensional graph, with one axis 322 depicting thepredicted value P, one axis 324 depicting the confidence interval R, andone axis 326 depicting the time horizon/prediction horizon H.

FIG. 3d shows a response matrix according to an exemplary embodiment.For example, the response matrix may be included in the informationrelated to the predicted QoS of the one or more alternatives to therequested service. FIG. 3d shows columns 332, 334 and 336, whichrepresent different values for confidence intervals of 90%, 95% and 99%,and rows 342, 344 and 346, which represent different values for a timehorizon of 5, 10 and 15 seconds. Consequently, at an intersection of arow and a column, a predicted value (here: a maximal latency inmilliseconds) at a confidence interval according to its column and at atime horizon according to its row is shown.

Using the response matrix, a function may be defined that takes theresponse matrix as an input and determines an inter-vehicular distanceaccordingly, e.g., based on a pre-defined confidence interval and timehorizon/prediction horizon.

As already mentioned, in disclosed embodiments the respective methodsmay be implemented as computer programs or codes, which can be executedon a respective hardware. Hence, another disclosed embodiment is acomputer program having a program code for performing at least one ofthe above methods, when the computer program is executed on a computer,a processor, or a programmable hardware component. A further disclosedembodiment is a computer readable storage medium storing instructionswhich, when executed by a computer, processor, or programmable hardwarecomponent, cause the computer to implement one of the methods describedherein.

A person of skill in the art would readily recognize that operations ofvarious above-described methods can be performed by programmedcomputers, for example, positions of slots may be determined orcalculated. Herein, some disclosed embodiments are also intended tocover program storage devices, e.g., digital data storage media, whichare machine or computer readable and encode machine-executable orcomputer-executable programs of instructions where the instructionsperform some or all of the operations of methods described herein. Theprogram storage devices may be, e.g., digital memories, magnetic storagemedia such as magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, oroptically readable digital data storage media. The disclosed embodimentsare also intended to cover computers programmed to perform theoperations of methods described herein or (field) programmable logicarrays ((F)PLAs) or (field) programmable gate arrays ((F)PGAs),programmed to perform the operations of the above-described methods.

The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of thedisclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the artwill be able to devise various arrangements that, although notexplicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of thedisclosure and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore,all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to beonly for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding theprinciples of the disclosure and the concepts contributed to furtheringthe art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to suchspecifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statementsherein reciting principles and disclosed embodiments of the disclosure,as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompassequivalents thereof.

When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a singlededicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality ofindividual processors, some of which may be shared. Moreover, explicituse of the term “processor” or “controller” should not be construed torefer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and mayimplicitly include, without limitation, Digital Signal Processor (DSP)hardware, network processor, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), read only memory (ROM) forstoring software, random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile storage.Other hardware, conventional or custom, may also be included. Theirfunction may be carried out through the operation of program logic,through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control anddedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique beingselectable by the implementer as more specifically understood from thecontext.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any blockdiagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitryembodying the principles of the disclosure. Similarly, it will beappreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transitiondiagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes whichmay be substantially represented in computer readable medium and soexecuted by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer orprocessor is explicitly shown.

Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into thedetailed description, where each claim may stand on its own as aseparate exemplary embodiment. While each claim may stand on its own asa separate exemplary embodiment, it is to be noted that—although adependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination withone or more other claims—other disclosed embodiments may also include acombination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each otherdependent claim. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it isstated that a specific combination is not intended. Furthermore, it isintended to include also features of a claim to any other independentclaim even if this claim is not directly made dependent to theindependent claim.

It is further to be noted that methods disclosed in the specification orin the claims may be implemented by a device having methods ormechanisms for performing each of the respective operations of thesemethods.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   10 Apparatus-   12 Interface-   14 Control module-   20 Apparatus-   22 Interface-   24 Control module-   100 Transportation vehicle-   110 Transmitting a request-   120 Receiving a response-   130 Transmitting an updated version of the request-   200 Base station-   210 Receiving a request-   220 Determining, whether a service is available from the base    station at a QoS requirement-   230 Determining one or more alternatives-   240 Transmitting a response-   250 Further base station-   300 Mobile communication system-   302, 304 Transportation vehicle-   310 Base station-   312, 314, 316 Predicted QoS at different confidence intervals and    prediction horizons-   320 Further mobile communication system-   322 Axis for predicted value P-   324 Axis for reliability R-   326 Axis for prediction horizon-   332, 334, 336 Columns of the response matrix-   342, 344, 346 Rows of the response matrix

1. An apparatus for a transportation vehicle, the apparatus comprising:at least one interface for communicating with a base station of a mobilecommunication system; and a control module to: transmit a request to thebase station of the mobile communication system, wherein the requestrelates to a service having a pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS)requirement; receive a response to the request from the base station,wherein the response indicates that the service is unavailable from thebase station at the pre-defined QoS requirement, and wherein theresponse comprises information related to one or more alternatives tothe requested service, wherein the one or more alternatives to therequested service comprises at least a subset of alternatives to therequested service that are provided via the base station of the mobilecommunication system, wherein the subset of alternatives to therequested service that are provided via the base station of the mobilecommunication system have less stringent QoS properties than thepre-defined QoS requirement, and transmit an updated version of therequest, wherein the updated version is based on the one or morealternatives, wherein the updated version of the request is based on analternative that has a less stringent QoS property than the pre-definedQoS requirement.
 2. A non-transitory computer readable medium includinga program code that enable the control module of claim 1 to operate whenthe computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or aprogrammable hardware component.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe updated version of the request is transmitted to the base station ofthe mobile communication system.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein atleast a part of the subset of alternatives to the requested service thatare provided via the base station of the mobile communication systemhave lower QoS properties than the pre-defined QoS requirement due to achange in a content data rate of the service, and/or wherein at least apart of the subset of alternatives to the requested service that areprovided via the base station of the mobile communication system haveless stringent QoS properties than the pre-defined QoS requirement dueto a change to a different category of service.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more alternatives to the requested servicecomprises at least a subset of alternatives to the requested servicethat are provided via a different base station of the mobilecommunication system or via a base station of a different mobilecommunication system.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the updatedversion of the request is transmitted to the different base station ofthe mobile communication system or to the base station of the differentmobile communication system, and/or wherein the subset of alternativesto the requested service that are provided via a different base stationof the mobile communication system or via a base station of a differentmobile communication system provide the same service via the differentbase station of the mobile communication system or via a different radioaccess technology via the base station of the different mobilecommunication system.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theinformation related to one or more alternatives to the requested servicecomprises information related to a predicted QoS of the one or morealternatives to the requested service, wherein the method furthercomprises selecting one of the one or more alternatives based on thepredicted QoS of the one or more alternatives to the requested service.8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information related to thepredicted QoS comprises the predicted QoS over one or more pre-definedtime intervals and/or based on one or more confidence intervals.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the method is executed by thetransportation vehicle, and/or wherein the mobile communication systemis a vehicular mobile communication system, and/or wherein the serviceis a vehicular communication service, and/or wherein the service is oneof a tele-operated driving service, a lane merge assistance service, anovertake assistance service, and a platooning service.
 10. An apparatusfor a base station of a mobile communication system, the apparatuscomprising: at least one interface for communicating with atransportation vehicle via the mobile communication system; and acontrol module to: receive a request from a transportation vehicle viathe mobile communication system, wherein the request relates to aservice having a pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) requirement,determine, whether the service is available from the base station at thepre-defined QoS requirement, determine one or more alternatives to therequested service, in response to the service being unavailable from thebase station at the pre-defined QoS requirement, wherein the one or morealternatives to the requested service comprises at least a subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via the basestation of the mobile communication system, wherein the subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via the basestation of the mobile communication system have less stringent QoSproperties than the pre-defined QoS requirement, and transmit a responseto the request to the transportation vehicle, wherein the responseindicates that the service is unavailable from the base station at thepre-defined QoS requirement, and wherein the response comprisesinformation related to the one or more alternatives to the requestedservice.
 11. A non-transitory computer readable medium including aprogram code that enable the control module of claim 10 to operate whenthe computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or aprogrammable hardware component.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe one or more alternatives to the requested service comprises at leasta subset of alternatives to the requested service that are provided viaa different base station of the mobile communication system or via abase station of a different mobile communication system.
 13. A methodfor a transportation vehicle, the method comprising: transmitting arequest to a base station of a mobile communication system, wherein therequest relates to a service having a pre-defined Quality of Service(QoS) requirement; receiving a response to the request from the basestation, wherein the response indicates that the service is unavailablefrom the base station at the pre-defined QoS requirement, and whereinthe response comprises information related to one or more alternativesto the requested service, wherein the one or more alternatives to therequested service comprises at least a subset of alternatives to therequested service that are provided via the base station of the mobilecommunication system, wherein the subset of alternatives to therequested service that are provided via the base station of the mobilecommunication system have less stringent QoS properties than thepre-defined QoS requirement; and transmitting an updated version of therequest, wherein the updated version is based on the one or morealternatives, wherein the updated version of the request is based on analternative that has a less stringent QoS property than the pre-definedQoS requirement.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the updated versionof the request is transmitted to the base station of the mobilecommunication system.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least apart of the subset of alternatives to the requested service that areprovided via the base station of the mobile communication system havelower QoS properties than the pre-defined QoS requirement due to achange in a content data rate of the service, and/or wherein at least apart of the subset of alternatives to the requested service that areprovided via the base station of the mobile communication system haveless stringent QoS properties than the pre-defined QoS requirement dueto a change to a different category of service.
 16. The method of claim13, wherein the one or more alternatives to the requested servicecomprises at least a subset of alternatives to the requested servicethat are provided via a different base station of the mobilecommunication system or via a base station of a different mobilecommunication system.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the updatedversion of the request is transmitted to the different base station ofthe mobile communication system or to the base station of the differentmobile communication system, and/or wherein the subset of alternativesto the requested service that are provided via a different base stationof the mobile communication system or via a base station of a differentmobile communication system provide the same service via the differentbase station of the mobile communication system or via a different radioaccess technology via the base station of the different mobilecommunication system.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein theinformation related to one or more alternatives to the requested servicecomprises information related to a predicted QoS of the one or morealternatives to the requested service, wherein the method furthercomprises selecting one of the one or more alternatives based on thepredicted QoS of the one or more alternatives to the requested service.19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information related to thepredicted QoS comprises the predicted QoS over one or more pre-definedtime intervals and/or based on one or more confidence intervals.
 20. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the method is executed by the transportationvehicle, and/or wherein the mobile communication system is a vehicularmobile communication system, and/or wherein the service is a vehicularcommunication service, and/or wherein the service is one of atele-operated driving service, a lane merge assistance service, anovertake assistance service, and a platooning service.
 21. A method fora base station of a mobile communication system, the method comprising:receiving a request from a transportation vehicle via the mobilecommunication system, wherein the request relates to a service having apre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) requirement; determining whetherthe service is available from the base station at the pre-defined QoSrequirement; determining one or more alternatives to the requestedservice, in response to the service being unavailable from the basestation at the pre-defined QoS requirement, wherein the one or morealternatives to the requested service comprises at least a subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via the basestation of the mobile communication system, wherein the subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via the basestation of the mobile communication system have less stringent QoSproperties than the pre-defined QoS requirement; and transmitting aresponse to the request to the transportation vehicle, wherein theresponse indicates that the service is unavailable from the base stationat the pre-defined QoS requirement, and wherein the response comprisesinformation related to the one or more alternatives to the requestedservice.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or morealternatives to the requested service comprises at least a subset ofalternatives to the requested service that are provided via a differentbase station of the mobile communication system or via a base station ofa different mobile communication system.